Heat Driven Osmosis Water and Power Generator

Abstract

An atmospheric water vapor extraction power generation device includes a dilute hygroscopic solution flow loop, air humidity exchanger, condensation solution circulation pump, pressure retarded osmosis exchanger, pressure exchanger, evaporation chamber, recuperative heat exchanger, concentrated solution circulation pump, solution pressure differential turbine generator, freshwater power turbine, concentrated hygroscopic solution flow loop and condensed water reservoir.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An electric power and freshwater generation comprising:
 a dilute hygroscopic solution;   a concentrated hygroscopic solution;   an osmosis exchanger;   an air humidity exchanger;   a pressure exchange turbine generator;   an evaporation chamber, and   a concentrated solution circulation pump,   wherein the dilute hygroscopic solution is circulating between the air humidity exchanger and the osmosis exchanger extracting moisture from ambient air and supplying the moisture to the osmosis exchanger, the concentrated hygroscopic solution circulating between the osmosis exchanger and the evaporation chamber absorbing solution by osmosis in the osmosis exchanger and releases the solution in the evaporation chamber,   wherein the concentrated solution pump receiving water depleted solution leaving the evaporation chamber and supplying the solution through the osmosis exchanger to the pressure turbine at high pressure, the concentrated solution having a higher absorption affinity for moisture absorbs water from the low concentration solution by osmosis as it passes through the osmosis exchanger and thereby brings the absorbed water to the high pressure of the concentrated solution as supplied by the concentrated solution pump, at substantially the same pressure, the increased volume of solution flow to turbine generator relative to that supplied by the concentrated solution pump results in a greater amount of power being generated by the pressure turbine than that consumed by the concentrated solution pump resulting in net output power.   
     
     
         2 . The electric power and freshwater generator as disclosed in  claim 1  further including a pressure exchanger, the pressure exchanger being fluidly coupled between the osmosis exchanger and the evaporation chamber in parallel with the pressure exchange turbine and in series with the concentrated solution circulation pump whereby the volume flowing through the pressure turbine is substantially equivalent to the volume of water absorbed by the concentrated solution within the osmosis exchanger, and the volume flowing through the pressure exchanger is substantially equivalent to that pumped by concentrated solution circulation pump, the pressure exchanger recovering the pressure energy of solution leaving the osmosis exchanger passing therethrough from high pressure to low pressure and supplying the pressure energy to low pressure solution passing therethrough from the evaporation chamber to supply it at high pressure to the concentrated solution circulation pump. 
     
     
         3 . The electric power and freshwater generator as disclosed in  claim 1  further includes a freshwater turbine and wherein the vaporization chamber includes a heat sink for removing heat to condense the water vapor generated therein, the resulting condensed water being supplied under pressure to the freshwater turbine whereby the freshwater turbine generates electrical power. 
     
     
         4 . The electric power and freshwater generator as disclosed in  claim 1  further includes a water collection reservoir, water condensed in the evaporation chamber being supplied to the water collection reservoir. 
     
     
         5 . An electric power and freshwater generation comprising:
 an evaporation chamber;   a humidity exchanger;   a freshwater column having vertical height with a top end and bottom end;   a freshwater electrical generator;   a humidity exchange chamber;   a supply of hygroscopic solution,   wherein the evaporation chamber, the humidity exchange chamber, water column and the electrical generator are fluidically coupled together the, the hygroscopic solution being contained within the evaporation chamber and humidity exchange chamber and circulating between the evaporation chamber and the humidity exchange chamber, the humidity exchange chamber exposing the hygroscopic solution to ambient air to facilitate attraction and condensation of ambient humidity into the hygroscopic solution, the resulting water latent solution carrying the absorbed water to the evaporation chamber wherein heat is supplied to evaporate water therefrom, the evaporated water flowing to the top end of the water column where heat is removed to condense the water, the fresh water electrical generator being connected to the bottom of the freshwater column, the flows condensed water flowing under the pressure resulting from the weight of the water column through the electrical generator to produce electricity.